Sierra Club Statement on State of the Union Address

Washington, D.C. -- Tonight President Obama gave his 2013 State of the Union address.

In response, Michael Brune, Sierra Club Executive Director, issued the following statement:

“As the president put it tonight, we must act on the climate crisis ‘before it’s too late.’ We couldn’t agree more. The Sierra Club thanks President Obama for his strong words in his State of the Union address, and we applaud his vow to prioritize innovative climate solutions, including investments in jobs-producing solar and wind energy as well as a focus on energy and fuel efficiency. These are critical steps forward in the fight against climate disruption, but that progress would be rolled back by more destructive oil drilling and gas fracking, and the burning of toxic tar sands.

“Moving the nation off fossil fuels, and confronting the climate disruption caused by the burning of those fuels, is a matter of such importance to the nation and the world that -- for the first time in the Sierra Club’s 120-year history -- we will soon participate in an act of civil disobedience to demonstrate our resolve. The obligation to address climate disruption has become so urgent, and the opportunity to attain clean energy prosperity so real, that we have a moral duty to act.

“The Sierra Club’s 2.1 million members and supporters have and will continue to back President Obama in his efforts to usher in clean energy prosperity and applaud his statement reminding congress that he has the authority to act, without waiting for their approval. We will also continue to push him forward. President Obama has the authority to create a robust clean energy economy and lead the world on climate solutions. He also has the executive power to reject the dirty Keystone XL pipeline, stop natural gas exports, reject trade agreements that put our air and water at risk, put an end to destructive Arctic drilling, and hold polluters accountable for their pollution. He has our full support to wield that power, and we will push him every step of the way to ensure a safer future for Americans.”